Home & Garden

Obento making is a daily occurrence in homes with children who attend Japanese yochien. We spoke to veteran obento making moms and these are their recommended obento making items. Many can be found at Toys R Us Japan, department stores like Aeon Style or on Amazon Japan. We have highlighted Amazon products below which …

Winter is just around the corner. Wanted to share my curated recommendations on preparing for winter – 10 Items to make living in Japan more comfortable. Below are products that have excellent customer reviews in Amazon.co.jp, and are shipped for free immediately from Amazon.  If you have your recommendations, please …

Shopping in a Japanse supermarket can be overwhelming, but navigating the cleaning aisle can be a search in dispiriting. Don’t struggle any longer. I have probably tested every cleaning product in Japan and here is my recommend Must Have Top 10 Japanese Cleaning Products. If you miss your favourite home …

Happy New Year! We love spending New Years in Japan. The cities are quiet, the food is good and just relaxing is so lovely! We hope you have a lovely holiday where ever you are celebrating in the world. Fukubukuro is an old Japanese shopping tradition that you can enjoy …

We are busy building the new Best Living Japan Studio (Minami Azabu) which will be a professional cooking and seminar space for the Best Living Japan courses starting in January 2018. Our kitchen project lead us to Tenpos Buster (テンポスバスターズ) which is a cooks budget paradise.  Tenpos Buster sells dishes and glassware, pots …

Tsutaya Electrics in Futakotamagawa is my favorite place to sit back, relax and enjoy a good book with or without the kids while browsing their art, appliances, and home space. Located near the creative DIY Factory where you can learn, make, buy DIY products; the 100 Spoons Family Restaurant, Futakotamaga Park, Japanese …

MUJI Ebisu reopened their store at the new Atre Ebisu West building (an extension of the Main Atre Building) in April 2016 and it`s bigger and better than ever. This store occupies the fifth and sixth floors and carries the first makeup counter in the Kanto region. They hold about …

Wondering where to buy a Christmas Tree in Japan? Many people have asked recently about where to find a Christmas tree in Japan. First, you need to determine if you want a real tree or an artificial tree. There are pros and cons to both! Real trees smell amazing but …

Need to buy holiday decorations in Tokyo that last forever for Halloween, Christmas, Valentines?  Artificial holiday decorations are in abundance year round at Asakusabashi (Kuramae station on the Oedo line). There is a handful of stores on the same corner that sell an amazing selection of fake flowers and holiday …

Electrically assisted bicycles is a great way to save money while burning off some extra calories! When you take a stroll down the street mums riding electrically assisted bicycles are bound to soar by. The number of people purchasing electrically assisted bicycles escalated after the March 11 earthquake in 2011; as …

Tokyo Urban Garden Planting Calendar – Autumn. Whether you`re an accomplished gardener or a novice, gardening is a great opportunity to partner with Mother Nature and bond with family and friends. Gardening teaches patience, care and offers a pathway to better health and nutrition. Our advice for novice gardeners is to …

Need to buy a birthday gift for a friend so stopped by Nihonbo Chopstick Store in Hiroo. Nihonbo has thousands of chopsticks (Hashi) from everyday to special occasion. You can even have the chopsticks personalized with your name engraved. Nihonbo Chopstick Store (Hiroo, Tokyo) I have been a loyal fan …

Toa Textile World in Shibuya is my go to for textiles when making kids Halloween costumes, cushion covers and wall hangings. Toa has a great selection of basic cottons, satins, fleece and suiting. The store also offers chiffons, fake fur, sequins and all the sewing accessories and decorations you will …

Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Tokyo is a cook’s shopping paradise. There are over 180 cooking, kitchen and restaurant supply stores extended over six blocks. Here even the kitchen sink is for sale – every pot and pan, serving dish, utensil, kitchen appliance that a cook can imagine. Kappabashi is located between Ueno …

Journal Standard Square located between Meiji Jingu and Shibuya stations is one of the best Tokyo one-stop shopping locations for Japanese home accessories and kitchenware.  If you are trying to minimize your belongings, do not step in this store!! Every item for sale is beautiful and a “must have” from …

The TOC Shopping Center is a bit tattered (built in 1970), but if you are looking for free parking and a one-stop for kids, baby, home and crafting items TOC is the perfect location. I shop at the TOC at least once every few months to stock up on kids/baby …

Tokyo is a clean city on the surface but the everyday pollution and fast pace of life can take a beating on your clothes, so here are our top Japanese laundry products to help you out. As a mom of four and a pet owner I highly recommend these Must …

MUJI Flagship Store reopened their flagship store in Ginza last year and it’s awesome! The 5-story complex now holds an organic foods marketplace which offers fruits and vegetables direct from farms that use little to no chemical pesticides and fertilizers, packaged soups, condiments and so much more. They also set …

FrancFranc Japan has over 100 stores and store with stores across Japan. The flagship store in Aoyama is my favorite location, but you can also shop in Japanese on their website and get free shipping on orders over 5,000 JPY.  The tremendous growth is due to the stylish and reasonably …

The Spiral Market is a great store for stationary and home accessory lovers. The merchandisers have selected a beautiful selection of foreign and Japanese products that would fit in any design savvy home around the world. The Spiral Market is located on the second floor of the famous Spiral Building …

If you are looking for art supplies for a school project, new crafting passion or a Halloween costume here is a short list of the best Tokyo arts and crafts supply stores.  I have listed up a few places that are my go to locations in Tokyo; many of these also …

The Itoya Ginza Flagship Store is not just one of the Tokyo Must Shop places to spend hours shopping for Japanese paper (washi) and stationary and home accessories, but also has a great restaurant and in-house veritable garden. The Ginza Flagship Store (located on Ginza Dori) and second building directly behind …

How to Use a Japanese Electronic Toilet Japanese electronic toilets, or washlets, are known for their functionality and space-age control panel, which can be intimidating to the uninitiated. And as they become the topic for visitors and residents alike, it’s safe to say that “toilets” are as synonymous with Japanese …

Nitori is the IKEA or Bed Bath & Beyond of Japan selling affordable furniture and interior goods.  Nitori is a nationwide chain with more than 300 stores throughout Japan and around 50 stores outside the country. It’s a great place to shop if you are setting up a home in Japan or if you want …

Dirty Dishes is well known amongst the Tokyo & Yokohama expat community as the “Best” place to stock up on Japanese tableware. Dirty Dishes is a family owned dish trading company actually called Okuno Shokai located in a  sleepy residential area of Kawasaki, Kanagawa-ken. If you have a car and …